Players will encounter Seth multiple times in Hollow Knight: Silksong.
Amid the successful launch of Hollow Knight: Silksong, the game includes a heartfelt tribute to a fan who passed away before getting the chance to play it.
This Hollow Knight fan, who had battled with cancer, has been immortalised in Hollow Knight: Silksong, appearing in the game as a full-on NPC with a full boss fight, complete with side quests.
Seth Goldman, known on Reddit as big_boi878, shared in 2018 that he was fighting Ewing sarcoma, a type of aggressive pediatric bone cancer, and wished to meet Team Cherry, the developers of Hollow Knight.
Earlier that year, his caretakers informed him that his case was terminal, with only a few months to live. Goldman’s father contacted the Marty Lyons Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to fulfilling the wishes of children with terminal illnesses, and Krystal DeWitt Monroy, Director of Program Services, which led to them coordinating with Team Cherry to make Goldman’s Hollow Knight dream a reality.
Initially, Goldman only hoped for a video call with the developers of his favourite game. That one meeting eventually led to several conversations, culminating in Team Cherry inviting him to design a custom NPC boss character for Silksong. Goldman named the character “Seth”, after himself, creating both the look and lore for the boss. Team Cherry described him as “a really cool young guy we were fortunate enough to meet and get to know.” Goldman even saw footage of his creation in action before passing, calling Seth “a monster” and expressing pride in his work.
However, Seth passed away in 2019 before Silksong was released, as confirmed by one of his friends on the same Reddit post.
After Goldman’s death, his father shared with Monroy: “Seth had a real dream come true. He LOVED that game. Seth's soul lives on in a video game and in the hearts of all that knew him.” Fans on the Hollow Knight subreddit also paid tribute, saying they would think of Goldman every time they encountered Seth in-game.
Where can players find Seth in Silksong?
Players can find Seth in Eastern Greymoor, in a secret area inside the Grand Gate, looking like an ant and armed with a pin and a circular shield, which he can spin at Hornet during the fight.
Seth should have a whole questline that players can follow, where they would need to solve a series of two riddles before facing him in a boss fight. This gives players multiple times to encounter the character in the game.
The encounter unfolds over multiple phases, accompanied by a simple piano melody that gradually grows into a full string accompaniment, giving the scene a profoundly moving atmosphere. After defeating him, players can encounter Seth again later in Silksong’s Shellwood.
Beyond gameplay, Seth is acknowledged in the game’s credits, preserving his contribution and story within Silksong. His character offers players a personal connection to the fan who helped shape the game, appearing across both the questline and boss fight.
While Silksong is known for its challenging combat and expansive areas, Seth’s inclusion provides a poignant moment that stands out amid the adventure, ensuring his story remains a part of the game’s world.
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